Fukushima Nuclear Crisis Update for December 4th to December 6th, 2012

Here’s the latest of our news bulletins from the ongoing crisis at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Upcoming National Elections

Campaigning for Japan’s Lower House of Parliament elections—scheduled for Sunday, December 16—has moved into full swing, but the outcome of the contest remains uncertain. Although current polling shows that the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will likely be knocked from power, analysts say that the large number of undecided voters, lack of clarity in party platforms, and disorganization of newly-emerging third parties may result in no one party having a majority in the Lower House. Etsushi Tanifuji, professor of political science at Waseda University, notes, “I think there will be no true winner in this election because the Diet will still be divided no matter what. This means this is a transitional election and not the ultimate decider.” He added, “This is an extremely unfortunate election for the voters because everything is so undecided—from the candidates to the policies---and the people are being forced to choose the ruling party in this environment. There are no past achievements to judge from, nor clear visions of the future to place their hopes in.”

Nuclear power is expected to play a major role in the decision-making process; this is the first general election since the Fukushima nuclear crisis more than a year and a half ago. In a debate last weekend, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said that the DPJ would continue its efforts to eradicate nuclear power across the country by 2040. Opposition leader Shinzo Abe held firm in his previous stance supporting nuclear power, and later said, “Japan should not rely completely on renewables.” Abe heads the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which was instrumental in crafting the nation’s nuclear power policy over past decades. Meanwhile, Yukiko Kada, head of the newly-formed Tomorrow Party (JTP), which emerged just last week, promised to end nuclear reliance within the next decade, by 2022. (Source: NHK)

An alliance has also reportedly sprung up between the LDP, which is pro-nuclear, and the New Komeito Party, which states that nuclear power should be abandoned “as promptly as possible.” Nevertheless, analysts have questioned whether or not that relationship will hold, given philosophical differences.

In the meantime, issues with communications, particularly surrounding submission of a list of candidates to the Central Election Management Council by the evening deadline on December 4—some names were simply scribbled on blank paper—as well as poor attendance at campaign events, have highlighted internal organizational problems and have many asking whether or not the brand-new JTP has a chance of becoming a serious force in Parliament.

Other Nuclear Politics in Japan

Hisako Sakiyama, a scientist who was on the 10-person panel that compiled the Diet’s investigatory report into the Fukushima nuclear disaster, has pointed out a single sentence in the 600-page document, which acknowledges that experts who determined the nation’s radiation exposure limits have been receiving monetary support from the nuclear industry for years. The discovery once again highlights a conflict of interest between the nuclear industry and those who are supposed to regulate it objectively. The support came in the form of money for flights and hotels in order for the experts to attend meetings of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Some of the scientists’ statements about radiation have been optimistic and sharply downplayed any risks from low-level radiation. The Diet investigation found that the nuclear industry has worked to influence Japanese ICRP members as far back as 2007, and documents show some executives expressing delight when the IRCP supported their views.

Shunichi Tanaka, Chairman of the NRA, said this week that the Tsuruga nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture could be shut down, even if researchers are unable to confirm that an active fault sits beneath the plant. Earlier this month, a five-person team of experts, including an NRA Commissioner, traveled to the Tsuruga plant for two days to study a crush zone beneath reactor #2, in an effort to determine whether or not it might move in tandem with the Urazoko fault, which is located 200 meters away and known to be active. According to Japanese law, if the fissure below the plant is found to be active, the reactors must be shut down. However, Tanaka said that safety, rather than guidelines, needs to be the top priority. “It’s not [the case] that nuclear reactors can be reactivated [just] because an active fault is not running directly beneath reactor buildings. Under special circumstances, the way such faults should be assessed needs to be reviewed,” he said. The NRA plans to make a decision about whether or not the Tsuruga plant will be restarted after it meets again on December 11.

Japan’s Environment Ministry reported this week that over 80% of almost 100,000 homes across Fukushima Prefecture are still contaminated with radioactive substances, more than a year and a half after three meltdowns occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Sixty-nine percent of schools and daycare centers have been decontaminated, but only 38% of parks and recreational facilities and only 51% of roads have been treated. (Source: NHK)

TEPCO has been caught lieing from day one making clean up and preventing radioactive fish from contaminating other sea life. I don't know if today's earthquake (12-07-12) has affected Japan's reactors. If per chance it did not I would hope the power companies and the government don't take that all is well.you can only push the envelope so many times. Thank you very much Greenpeace

the smaller areas are likely toxic/nuclear dumping areas within the other waste areas.. has greenpeace tested these areas??
nobody has mentioned these areas.. i have left a link to the earthquake counter video so you get the full picture of impacts on the sites.. and any other areas not reported..